While GCOOS is a data-driven organization, our mission also includes developing tools that help support a more ocean-literate society. To that end, GCOOS educators have developed lessons for students to help them understand and use data.

Working with CETACEAN Data

Marine mammal populations in the Gulf of Mexico are affected by human activities such as commercial shipping traffic, anthropogenic noise, and interactions with fisheries. Many of these already vulnerable populations were further impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010.

CETACEAN, Compilation of Environmental, Threats, and Animal Data for Cetacean Population Health Analyses Platform, is being developed by GCOOS to catalog and manage information related to open-ocean marine mammal species in the Gulf of Mexico. This service is being developed to help restoration managers and researchers understand the population dynamics of cetaceans that were harmed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, as well as the various stressors that threaten them over time and across different locations.

CETACEAN for Educators provides lesson plans for teachers using NGSS standards and focused on core ideas of Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience, Biodiversity and Humans, and Developing Possible Solutions.

Check out CETACEAN for Educators here

Satori and the Mystery of the Dirty Data

GCOOS Product Developer and Co-Data Manager Bob Currier created “Satori and the Mystery of the Dirty Data,” as a training aid to teach non-data scientists about the daily lives of data scientists. In the video, his character Satori takes viewers through the entire cycle of data processing — from finding and cleaning data, to creating and training artificial intelligence (AI) models, and finally, to visualizing the data.

Watch the video then take the quiz to test your data skills!

Take the Quiz Now (downloadable PDF)

Ocean Animals on the Move

This project, conducted in partnership with Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) and the Marine Biodiversity Observing Network (MBON) and U.S. IOOS, focuses on animal tracking and the data stewardship that goes along with it.

“Ocean Animals on the Move: Using Technology to Track Marine Life and Understand Environmental Change” includes three lessons for students in grades 8-12. The goal is to understand the purpose and process of animal tracking and the data stewardship practices needed to apply the information to real-world challenges.

This ESIP FUNding Friday Collaboration was developed by Dr. Chris Simoniello, GCOOS Outreach & Education Manager; Mitch Rider, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Miami; Lori Anzalone, Anzalone & Avarella Studios; Mathew Biddle, U.S. IOOS; Felimon Gayanilo, GCOOS Co-Data Manager and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Grant Craig, GCOOS Volunteer Coordinator.